Essential Action has obtained a copy of a report on medical waste in India prepared by Professor Roger Willey of the University of Paisley, for the World Bank. The report is dated March 1997.

The report includes a number of outrageous points. Some excerpts are below and Essential Action will mail a full copy to anyone who is interested.

On page 3 - 4, Willey accuses anti-incinerator activists of spreading false information:

"Following the announcement of the World Bank plans and the Indian Supreme Court judgement, considerable criticism has been levied at the whole concept of incineration of medical waste in India. Much of this has appeared in the popular press in India and Washington, D.C. It is very clear from a perusal of the press cuttings that the critics have been quite selective in the 'facts' presented. In a number of cases these have been based on outdated information or circumstances.

"This is a technique quite often utilized by campaigning groups e.g. Greenpeace in their recent highly public campaign against the disposal at sea of a redundant North Sea oil platform published information which was susequently proven to be quite erroneous. The net result was a requirement for on-land disposal, which is proving to be significantly more hazardous than the original sea proposal."

[NOTE: If you are interested in the above paragraph, save this email because it is hard to read in the photocopied report I can provide.]

On page 10, Willey describes the proposed new Indian medical waste incinerator regulations:

"To attempt to eliminate dioxin emissions, it is proposed to segregate the clinical waste at source and remove those plastics which would give rise to dioxin emissions."

Those of you following incinerator issues know that avoiding PVC plastic incineration is a responsible step towards reducing dioxin formation in incinerators. However, Willey than argues AGAINST the proposed new standards and states with emphasis:

"I would strongly urge that you put any pressure which you can muster on the Ministry of Environment and Forests to reconsider their proposed regulations."

Throughout the report Willey states that incinerators are necessary. In response to the Indians' concerns that the country lacks the technical ability to even monitor for dioxin, Willey suggests that rather than adopt alternative safer waste management systems, or even require PVC separation before incineration to reduce dioxin emissions, India shuld instead develop dioxin testing facilities:

On Page 10, Willey says:

"I appreciate the concern over the current lack of analytical ability in India. However, this is a matter which can be quickly and easily overcome - providing funds can be made available. Analytical techniques for dioxins, furans, VOC's, and heavy metals are all now well documented and are standard routines in many laboratores. It would be entirely feasible to train key technicians from the Central Pollution Control Board in Europe or North America, purchase the necessary equipment and have the whole system up and running in say 6 to 9 months."

So instead of reducing dioxin poisoning from incineration, the Bank can teach Indians how to measure the level at which they are being poisoned!!

If anyone wants further information, please contact Ann Leonard at Essential Action . If anyone wants to express their dismay over Roger Willey's accusations that anti-incinerator activists are presenting mis-information or his blatant suggestion that the World Bank "pressure" the Indian government to change their regulations, you can contact him directly at:

Professor Roger Willey
Center for Environmental and Waste Management
Westerfield House
25 High Calside
Paisley PA268Y
Scotland
Phone: 0141-848-3146
Fax: 0141-848-3142

Please cc any letter to Robert Watson, World Bank Environment Director, 1818 H Street, NW, Washington, DC 20433 and also please let me know if you get any response.

Please share this information with anyone else who would be interested.